Second Lieutenant George V (Victor) Blake was born in 1886 at Trowbridge, the 5th of 6 children of Henry and Catherine Blake. His father’s business was as a maltster, corn miller and brewer – known as Blake’s Brewery. Their beer was sold in bottles marked “Heritage and Blake”, and in the 1920s the brewery was sold to Ushers. The family lived on Hieperton Road in the leafy suburbs of Trowbridge, where George and his siblings were looked after by a nursemaid.

George was educated at Clifton College in Bristol – also the old school of Douglas Haig CinC –  and then studied law. He arrived in Oswestry around 1910 to take an appointment as managing clerk for Messrs. Longueville and Co, Solicitors. Whilst in Oswestry he lived at 3 Victoria Parade on Roft Street, where he lived in rooms. Also in the house lived Private 2031 Arthur Llew. Davies  and his mother and siblings. George joined the local Conservative Party and became a keen branch member making many friends. He also played hockey (see also Fl. Lt. William Norman Thomas) for Shropshire County. In 1913 (August 1914 obituary date) he married Nancy Eva Sheather of Weston Cotton. They lived at ‘Fairhavens’ on Hampton Road – see also Captain Edward W Walker. Together they would have 2 children; Wendy, born in 1915, and George in 1918 and born after his father’s death.

George enlisted as a Private 8539 in the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps. The Inns of Court battalion was originally a volunteer and territorial battalion of the London Regiment but soon after the outbreak of war was re-designated as an Officer Training Corps. George received his commission as Second Lieutenant 1 Bn KSLI in December 1916 joining up with them in France on 23 February 1917. He was at first assigned to the 6th Divisional Training Company stationed at Locons. At the end of March he rejoined the battalion which was then in the Loos sector.

In April he attended another course at the Divisional Training School and, shortly after returning to duty on 27 May 1917, was admitted to Field Hospital. There is no record of him having been wounded so possibly was suffering from an illness, shock or exhaustion. He returned to duty until 3 November, when he had 14 days of home leave. Back home in Oswestry, he spent the fourteen days with Nancy and his young daughter Wendy – this was also when their next child, George, was conceived.

George arrived back at the battalion on 20 November and was killed in action 3 December 1917 in the fighting at Cambrai. He was buried on the battlefield and later was re-interred at Marcoing British Cemetery. His headstone reads ‘Greater love hath no man than this’. He is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry, at Clifton School and on Trowbridge War Memorial.

Acknowledgements. Photographs and additional information – Stewart Boyd – grandson

References and Sources

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